I am sure there is a song in the title somewhere, but my point is a serious one.
I completely understand why people come on here and ask for reassurance about symptom a or b, and there is even a school of thought that suggests that this is part of the recovery process. But, for those of you that are posting about symptoms, but have done nothing about your mental health, more than going to the GP and asking for meds (although I do think meds can be a vital part of getting better), I urge you to think about what YOU can do to make yourself feel better.
To use Fishmanpa's analogy of anxiety being the dragon. The dragon's core diet is reassurance, it grows bigger and stronger as a consequence and strives for more. It tells you that the advice you have been given is wrong and you must seek more. It tells you that if you don't, then you will undoubtedly die, probably soon and probably of the disease you most fear. Take it from me that the dragon is tricking you, all he wants is a good old feast, and by constantly striving to reassure yourself that you don't have a, b, or c, you are feeding it from the a la carte menu.
In my opinion, and it is only my opinion, but was somewhat validated by a therapist who specialised in health anxiety, the only way to ultimately recover, or manage anxiety is to cut of the supply. Don't get me wrong, that is insanely hard to do, particularly when behaviours have become habitual. But there are things you can do to make it easier.
The trap that HA sufferers often fall into is trying to control the one thing that we can't - our destiny in terms of health. Now obviously that isn't completely true, as we can exercise, stop smoking etc (somehow perversely something that a lot of us are fearful of), but we cant control the things that we most strive to.
We can control other things though. For example we can control our reaction to things. So when the panic sets in and you feel the urge to go to the bathroom and examine yourself.......don't, just sit with the anxiety and let it wash over you - it cant hurt you, and let's face it, checking one more time will not make a difference. After a while that becomes easier.
When you feel the urge to ask about a symptom on here......don't. Try and weigh up in your mind whether a rational mind would seek reassurance or whether or not you might be over reacting. If you conclude the former, book a GP appointment, or the latter, just sit with it.....it can't hurt you.
Trust me when I say, that I was a compulsive googler. I travel to London a couple of times a week and so I used to spend 5 hours on the train on my smart phone, looking back I cannot believe I did that! But by applying some sensible techniques, living with some of the discomfort and anxiety that created, and being a bit disciplined, things got progressively easier.
The point is though, that each and every one of you here, has it within yourself to get better from anxiety to either a manageable or unnoticeable level. Ultimately the solution doesn't lie in drugs, although that can be part of the picture, it lies within you. You need to want it more than anything else, be more fearful of not living a life than not living, and you have to take ownership of your recovery, not wait for it to happen by chance or circumstance.
If you have time, read the 'Getting there slowly thread'. On there is a collection of women (mostly), who a matter of months ago were all in a pickle. They have supported one another, followed advice from people on here who have been there, but critically they have taken back control, rather than letting anxiety control them.
Have a great night folks, and remember that the thing that you thought was going to kill you yesterday didn't and by the law of averages the thing the you think is going to kill you tomorrow probably won't either
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by cpe1978
